Fountain pen



Patented Aug. 3l, 1937 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNTAIN PENApplication January 4,1936, serial No. 57,628

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a fountain pen and has special reference to afountain pen in which the lling mechanism is actuated by the rotation ofan operating element to produce the suction for drawing the writingfluid into the barrel ofthe fountain pen.

More particularly, this invention relates to a fountain pen includinga`barrel having filling means therefor comprising an element mounted Vonthe barrel and operable by rotation thereof about the longitudinal axisof the barrel, a ilexible member closing the end of the barrel and beingreciprocated by a `connection between the flexible. member and theelement which includes` means for providing a positive actuation of theflexible member in a reciprocal movement there.N of by the rotation ofthe element alternately in opposite directions.

It is desirable in a fountain pen to provide a filling device which mayoccupy only a'relatively small portion of the interior of the barrel soas to provide a maximum ink capacity therein. Also, it is, of course,desirable that the filling mechanism be of such a construction asV tosafeguard against a possibility of leakage of the writing fluidtherethrough. .The construction herein disclosed contemplatestheprovision of a relativelyV small filling mechanism which includes a-ilexible memberv for reciprocation in the direction 30 of the. axis ofthe barrel by'a. member Whichis rotatable alternately in oppositedirections about the axis thereof, the flexible member being held aboutits perimeter in a manner to seal the end .of the barrel and thusobviateleakage through` that end-and being secured to a medial portionthereofA on the outside ofthe fluid reservoir through a piston operatedby the rotatable element. i

The rotatable movement of the operating head 'or rotatable element istranslated intoa longitudinal movement of the piston member by a closedcam. ln other words, an elongated slot extends spirally on the interiorof aisleeve element constituting a part of the operating head forengaging and moving the piston and thereby `the flexible. member in thedirection'of the axis ofthe barrel. It is preferable to provide a clockspring Which, in the manual operation o-f the rotatable head in onedirection, will be '50 Wound up and upon the completion of movement ofthe operating member in one direction will return the operating memberto 'an initial position, the piston being thus reciprocated to, in turn,reciprocate the flexible member..

It is one of the objects of this inventonto pro- (Cl. 1Z0-47) vide afountain pen of the above indicated characterk in which the fillingmechanism thereof is leak-proof andfully housed and protected within thepen barrel.

Another object of this invention is to provide 5 a fountain pen of thetype heretofore referred to in which a maximum ink capacity is obtainedwith a, relatively small portion of the barrel being utilized fo-robtaining the filling action.

A further object of this invention is to provide a fountain pen of thecharacter noted above which is comparatively inexpensive to manufactureand which is simple in operation.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter be more particularlylpointed outl and for a more complete understanding of the characteristicfeatures of this invention, reference may now be had to the followingdescription when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in whichlatter:

y Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional View of a fountain penembodyingthe features of this invention;

Fig. 2` isy an enlarged central sectional view of a fragmentary portionof the end of the fountain pen shown in Fig. 1 showing a changed po-.sition of the filling mechanismy thereof;

Fig. 3 is a developed Viewlof the cam of the filling mechanism of the`preceding figures; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cam of Fig. .3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the present invention isshown as embodying va fountain pen having a barrel I0 enclosed on oneend by the usual pen section I I, which latter yis preferably screwthreaded into the: bore of the 35 barrel. The pen section II carries apen. nib I2 and the usual feed bar I3, the latter being provvded with anink channel which opens within the barre-l and extends' outwardlytherefrom to be covered by the pen nib. The feed bar com- 40 municateswithV a tube I4, which latter is mounted therein and extends within thebarrel cavity to a point near the filling mechanism thereof. EThewriting point end of the barrel is k.pro-vided with exterior threads forengaging the -interiorly disposed threads of a cap I5.

`The end of the barrel opposite to the Writing point end is providedpreferably with an enlarged threaded bore for engaging-threads' on a`reduced extension of a housing I6. By reason of the reduced extensionofthe housing I6, it is vpossible to form the outer surface thereofcovextensive with the outer periphery of the barrel. A washer I'I,preferably of. non-corrosive metal, iis .disposed at the shoulder formedby the juno-- of the axis of the barrel and against rotation in thedirection about the axis thereof. Apiston 22 is mounted forreciprocation in the.. bore of the` sleeve 2|, the piston being heldagainstrotation..

therein and being guided in its reciprocal move'- ment by a pin 23 whichridesin a longitudinall-S7 extending slot 24 in the sleeve.

The reciprocal movement of the piston 22 is accomplished-by a rotatablemovement of az tu.- bular element 25, whichwlatter'is'provided` with acam shell. 261shown more particularlyin Figs. 3 and 4. The cam shell ispreferably `formed of. a cylindrical shell in a single piece,anelongated slot 2.1 being formed thereinito extend spirally about aportion of the peripheral surface of the shell, thereby providing aninclined'edge along which the pin 2'3 ridesI to move the piston; 22.1.ina direction toward and. away from the writing point end of the fountainpen. The connection between theflexible member 91and the rotatabletubular element 25 thus'provides apositive actuation of `the iiexiblemember in a reciprocal movement thereof bythe rotation of thetubular'element 25 in opposite directions, the slot,I or,` in otherwords, a-closed cam, limiting the rotative movement ofthe tubularelement 25 nzeachfdirection.

The cam member from the shell 26 may readily be lfixed withinthe tubularmember 25.inany well known `manner such Ias by meansof a forced iit. Theends of the slot will indicate the exitreme positionsof movement of therotatable head.

'Ihe tubular portion 25 together with .its fixed cam shell 2'6 arerotatable on the sleeve.- 21|. Also, the tubular-portion 25 andassociatedfcam element 26. rotate. within the housi-ng |6. In order toprevent' endwise displacement'. of. the tubular member 25, lthe housing|61-isprovided with a reduced bore It@l at its outerend for providing ashoulder which engages theshoulder providedxby a reduced extension 28?of the :tubular member 25; In order to manually operate= the tubularmember 25 and its 4fixed cam therein,` a cap 29 iixedly engages thereducedextension 28 and may be held therein merely.` by engagingthreads-or by a cementitious material or Vother locking means.

While it is desirable `in some instances to actu-- ate the operatinghead manually'about thea-axis of the barrel alternately in oppositedirections, it may-further be desirable'merely -to rotate the operatinghead in one direction-.and obtain the return thereof `to aninitialiposition by automatic means. In order to accommodate thiscondition, the inner end -of the tubular element 25 maybe provided`withareduced portion 30, abouttwhch a spring preferably of the usual 'clockspring type may be wound, one end ofthefclock spring 3| being xed to thetubular' member 25 andthe other end being fixed to the stationaryhousingi5y in which the tubulartelement 25 rotates;` As the-operating headiszrotatedabout the=axis of means and the diaphragm is exed orreciprocatedby the piston. In the operation of the fountain pento fillthe same, the cap 29 is rotatedlin'one direction to rotate the tubularmember; 2,5 andthe cam 26 iixed thereto. The cam engages the end of thepin 23, which latter proljectsthrough-the longitudinally extending slot24,in` the sleeve 2| to move the pin and thereby to operate the pistonin one longitudinal direction or inthe direction of the axis of thebarrel. The piston .is held against rotatable movement by the engagementof the pin thereof with the longitudinallyextending slot 24'and isthereby'permitted movement merely in a longitudinal direction. If thespring 3| is omitted, then the manual operation ofthe operating head' 29in a reverse rotation operates .the piston in an opposite directionalong theaxis'of the barrel. However, when the springl 3| is employed,this member will operate automatically to return the operating head to.itsinitial position. The flexure of the diaphragm` creates a .suctionwithin the barrel to dravvrink therein anda partial rotation of the capalternately in opposite directions is continued until the' barrelis'iilled with ink.

While bluta single embodiment of this invention is herein shown anddescribed, it is to be understood that various modifications thereofmay-.be apparent to those skilled in the art without.y departing fromthespirit'and scope of this invention and,` therefore, thefsame is only tobe limited by the scopel of the prior art andthe appended claims,l

I'claim:

l; In a.fountain pen having a barrel, filling means therefor comprisingan element mounted on.-.the barrel and operable by rotation thereofabbutthe longitudinal axis of the barrel, a iiexible member closing theend of the barrel, and

a-connection between said flexible member and said element includingmeans for providing a positive actuation of said iiexible member in areciprocal movement thereof by the rotation of the element alternatelyin opposite directions,`

and means for limiting the rotative movement of said" element in eachdirection.

2. In a fountain pen having a barrel, filling means therefor comprisingan element mounted onr the barrel and operable by rotation thereof aboutthe longitudinal axis of the barrel, a iiexible member closing the endof the barrel, and a connection. between said iiexible member and saidelement including cam means for providing a positive actuation `of saidflexible member in a reciprocal movement thereof by the rotation of theelement alternately in opposite directions, and meansffor limiting'therotative movement of said element ineach direction.

3. In a fountain pen having a barrel, fillingl means thereforcomprisingan element mounted on' the'v barrel and operable by rotation thereofabout'thetlongitudinal axis of the barrel, a flexible member closing.the end of the barrel, and a cam onsaidselement for-.engaging a pinextending from l guiding means between said sleeve and said piston todirect longitudinal movement of said piston and to p-revent rotationthereof, a flexible member closing the end of the barrel and secured tosaid piston, an element operable by the rotation l thereof alternatelyin opposite directions about the longitudinal axis of the barrel forreciprocating said piston and thereby said ilexible member, and meansfor limiting the movement of said element in each direction.

5. In a fountain pen having a barrel, lling means therefor comprising afixed sleeve, a piston having reciprocal movement in said sleeve,guiding means between said sleeve and said piston to direct longitudinalmovement of said 25 piston and to prevent rotation thereof, a flexiblemember closing the end of the barrel and secured to said piston, anelement manually rotatable in one direction about the longitudinal axisof the barrel for moving said piston in one direction, resilient meansfor rotating said element in the opposite direction to return saidpiston to an initial position thereby reciprocating said flexiblemember.

6. In a fountain pen having a barrel, lling means therefor comprising axed sleeve, a piston having reciprocal movement in said sleeve, saidsleeve having a slot extending in the direction of the axis thereof forreceiving a pin fixed on said piston to direct longitudinal movement ofsaid piston and to prevent rotation thereof, a ilexible member closingthe end of the barrel and secured to said piston, an element operable bythe rotatie-n thereof alternately in opposite directions about thelongitudinal axis of the barrel for reciprocating said piston andthereby said flexible member, and means for limiting the movement ofsaid element in each direction.

7. In a fountain pen having a barrel, filling means therefor comprisinga sleeve fixed on said so barrel and having an axially extending slot, a

piston having reciprocal movement in said sleeve and having a pinextending through said slot for guiding the movement of said piston, aflexible diaphragm having the peripheral edges thereof secured to saidbarrel for closing the end thereof and having a medial portion xedtosaid piston, a tubular member surrounding said sleeve having means foractuating said piston, said tubular member being operable by therotation thereof alternately in opposite directions about said sleevefor reciprocating said piston and thereby said flexible member, andmeans for limiting the movement of said tubular member in eachdirection.

8. In a fountain pen having a barrel, filling means therefor comprisinga sleeve xed on said barrel and having an axially extending seat, apiston having reciprocal movement in said sleeve and having a pinextending through said slot for guiding the movement of said piston, aflexible diaphragm having the peripheral edges thereof secured to saidbarrel for closing the end thereof and having a medial portion fixed tosaid piston,

and a tubular member having a closed cam on the inner periphery thereoffor engaging said pin, said tubular member being operable by the rota.-tion thereof alternately in opposite directions about said sleeve forreciprocating said piston and thereby said flexible member and saidclosed cam limiting the movement of said tubular member in eachdirection.

9. In a fountain pen having a barrel, lling means therefor comprising asleeve fixed on said barrel and having an axially extending slot, apiston having reciprocal movement in said sleeve and having a pinextending through said slot for guiding the movement of said piston, aexible diaphragm having the peripheral edges thereof secured to saidbarrel for closing the end thereof and having a medial portion fixed tosaid piston, a tubular member having an elongatedl aperture extendingspirally on the inner periphery thereof for receiving said pin, saidtubular member being operable by the rotation thereof about said sleevemanually in one direction to move said piston longitudinally in onedirection, and resilient means for rotating said tubular member in theother direction to return said piston to an initial position therebyreciprocating said ilexible member.

WILBUR K. OLSON.

